Police in MM alerted for possible JI/RSM attacks

By Ronron
August 27, 2007

Police in Metro Manila have been alerted since this weekend for possible terror attacks by the Al-Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), a police document showed Monday.

According to an August 24, 2007 memorandum of Eastern Police Intelligence head Supt. Cornelio Barrios, “some intelligence reports” reveal that “prominent malls and gasoline stations in Metro Manila will be the next target of the JI/RSM group.”

The report particularly cited SM North EDSA in Quezon City, Metro Market Market in Taguig City, and SM Makati as among the targets.

Members of said group are supposedly “using a safehouse somewhere in Quezon City, Taguig City or Makati City.”

The report, however, did not say how many suspected terrorists are in the capital now and when they intend to strike.

Retired Gen. Marlu Quevedo who is now with the anti-terrorism office of the National Security Council (NSC) said the apprehension last week of a man with explosives in Cebu City was supposedly part of the reported terror plot in Metro Manila.

“As of now, the terrorists have no capability yet to undertake actions. We will not allow them to bring in their capability here. Thus, last week, we caught one in Cebu,” he said in a text message.

Police in Metro Manila and the entire Mindanao have been placed on full alert since Monday last week for fears that the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and its allies will launch diversionary or sympathy attacks elsewhere due to the ongoing offensives against them in Basilan and Sulu.

Barrios, in his memorandum, said Eastern Police director Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman ordered the chiefs of police of Marikina City, Taguig City, Mandaluyong City and San Juan to take extra measures against the said intelligence report.

“You are directed to validate said information and submit report to this office as soon as possible,” Barrios quoted Ticman.

“On top of this, tighten your security measures in all vital installations and other probable terrorist targets in your area of responsibility,” he added.

The last major terror attack in Metro Manila was the Valentine’s Day bombing in Makati City in 2005, which was synchronized with blasts in Davao City and General Santos City./DMS